Microphones

[kevin_standlee]

While talking with Lisa about plans for Match Game SF at BayCon -- I still haven't heard back from anyone at BayCon about the various technical and organizational issues I raised -- I was prompted to go looking for that long skinny microphone Gene Rayburn uses. Aside from the ability to recreate the original show, the long microphone is practical when I'm having to stick a microphone in people's faces.

Google searches tell me that Gene's microphone is a Sony ECM-51. I see versions of it have gone for $200-$300 on eBay. I have a standing search in place on eBay now in case someone else wants to sell one. I don't know if I'd pay $250 for one, though.

Comments

[kproche.livejournal.com]

I have a small lavalier that we can clip onto a telescoping pointer for you. It's one of the "bodypack" mics that came with my wireless system, which we can patch into Lunatic's sound board as the MC microphone.

Would that be close enough for you?

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

This sounds reasonable to me.

You'll have received my long message about all my technical concerns. I know I'm being a nervous nellie, but I don't like surprises on the day.

[chocolatescifi.livejournal.com]

Was there any particular reason why Rayburn used that particular microphone?

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Well, some of the web sites out there (and they may all be quoting each other, so it's difficult to confirm independently) say that Rayburn actually invented that microphone himself and patented it, so presumably it met a need he perceived. One site said that Gene had been a fencer when he was younger and that he liked to do some cut-and-thrust with the microphone (much to the dismay of the technicians who had to repair the microphones he broke by doing this).

I can see the value in such a microphone in a game show situation. I think that if I were doing it today I'd want a wireless version, though. I like to wander around the stage, and I get tangled up in the cable.